Spraying device



l May 30, 1933. w. H. KlTro SPRAYING DEVICE Filed April 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1l, 'll/111111111111111; '[(11/1/11/1111/4 llllllallilrllflllllllilllllll'llll May 30, 1933. w. H. KrTo 199119357 SPRAYING DEVICE 'Filed April 4. "1951 z'sheets-shee-a 2' Patented May 30, 1933 lWILLIAM H. ximo, or CANTON, omo, Non'rn CANTON, omo,

SSIGNOB T0 THE HOOVER COMPANY, 0F n l A CORPORATION F OHIO SPBAYING DEVICE Application led April 4, 1931. Serial 110.1521657.

This invention relates. to spraying 'devices of the type in which a liquid 1s atomized by and mixed with a current of alr.

The .invention is shown and described as 5 embodied in an apparatus for the use of a comparatively large and continuous flow of air under comparatively low pressure, such as may be obtained by connection to the outlet of a suction cleaner. Devices of this 1o nature are usually-portable and utilize a container for the liquid, the size of which is determined by the weight of liquid which may be conveniently supported by the hand, p referably a glass jar of a size andv shape marketed lin large numbers.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device lof this type by which a uniform mixture will be maintained auto matically regardless of the height of liquid in the container. A. further object is to provide a device for this purpose which will be simple in construction, and which can be economically manufactured and'readily assembled and disassembled for cleaning, adjustment'or repair. A still further object is to provide a device .which may be readily controlled to vary the rate of spraying anl -Which will, under all conditions, maintain a spray of uniform density and prevent the discharge of large drops of liquid, or dribbling when the spraying action is-stopped. Still further objects of the invention and novel features of invention and operation will be apparent from the following specification when read with companying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly in lbroken' section, of a spraying device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, partly in `Vertical section, of the structure shown in Fig. 1; y Fig. -3 is a view lin horizontal section, taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2; n Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of the nozzle shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view,

similar to Fig.'v 1, but showing amodied embodiment of the invention; and-- Fig. 6 isa View in side elevation, partly Ain section,

reference to the acof the structure shown in Fig. 4. In each of the modications shown a part of the air stream'is directed downwardly into the container and utilized to operate as a gas-lift pump to fill a small auxiliary reservoir in the top ofthe container.' This reservoir is kept full,` the excess liquid ov'erflowing, and constitutes a constant-level supply. for the short liquid tube which leads to the nozzle. Two -types of nozzles are shown, that of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 being of the concentric discharge t e in which the Vliquid supply conduit is dlrected laterally and positioned concentricall in the air noz zle, and that of Figs. 4 and1 aspirating type, in which the air nozzle discharges across the open top of an uplwardly directed liquid supply tube. In eac case a definite liowof air into and out of the container is maintained, the outlet being b a tube leading from a point above the sur ace of the liquid near the top of the container to a point of reduced pressure in the air blast tube. This current of air is utilized' to keep the auxiliary reservoir full and so maintain a uniform density of spray red gardless of the height of liquid in the con tainer.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a main casting 11 is provided with a round 80 cap portion 12 .having a depending flange with a thread, which is preferably interrupted, to lit upon the top of a glass jar 14, or similar container, the usual gasket being used to form a tight joint. The casting includes a large horizontally extendin blast tube 15, extending across the top of t e cap portion 12, and continuous with,a downwardly extending air-supply tube ortion 16, which is adapted to be attache by aiexible hose to the outlet of a suction 'cleaner or similar supply of compressed air. The size and inclination of the tube portion 16 is preferably such that. it maybe'` readily used as a handle by which thesprayer and its contents maybe su ported so as to direct the spray as -desired A nozzle cap` 17,

preferably formed yof sheet metal, vis frictionally mounted on the forward end of the blast tube 15.

5 being of the e5 is threaded or otherwise suitably securedtherein. The lower end f the tube 19 extends to a point adjacent the bottom of the 'jar 14 where it is bent laterally and then as shown, and acting Vterminates in a short upturned end 20. The

tube for `supplying liquid to the nozzleis preferably formed in several parts, to facilitate assembly and permit it to be easily cleaned. A cup, or auxiliary reservoir 21 is secured adjacent the top of a vertical pipe v22, and from within the reservoir 21 a short vertical pipe 23- extends, being secured to the side of the pipe 22, as shown.` vA small drain vent 21b being provided in the base of the reservoir 21, if desired, to permit the reservoir to drain and avoid spilling of the liquid when the cap 12 is removed. -A drip ring 24 surrounds the lopen top of the pipe 22, being secured to the side of the pipe 23, both as an abutment to determine the position of the parts relativev to the cap, and to direct the liquid from the top of the pipe 22 down into the reservoir 21. Pipe 22, cup 21, pipe 23 and ring 24 may be conveniently secured together as a unit by soldering or sweating the parts together, as shown, but any other suitable means of assembly may be employed. The enlargedv upper end of the pipe 23 extends through the cap 12 and an enlarged head or elbow 25 is threaded upon the upper end of the pipe A23 and engages the upper side of the cap 12 to secure the entire assembly. A

horizontally extending tube 26 is threaded,

or otherfwise secured to the head 25, and a valve is provided in the head 25, comprlsing a conical end 27 fitting in a corresponding seat in the top of the pipe 23, and having va stem 28 which extends through the top of the head 25, a spring 29 surrounding the stem 28 and normally holding the valve closed. The upper end of the stem 28l is Y slotted at 30 to receive the forward wedgeshaped end 31 of a valve-operating rod 32. This rod 32extends rearwardly through the wall of the blast tube, the wall being preferably provided with a recess 33 to house a spring 34 which surrounds the rod and acts against a thumb piece 35, which is threaded upon the end of the rod, to hold the rod in its rearward position, as determined by the engagement of a collar or abutment 36 on the rod with the inner wall of the tube. If desired, the rod 32 and the opening in the wall of the tube through which it extends may be of non-circular l cross section to hold it from rotation, and

it will be apparent that the thumb-piece 35 is so positioned that it may be conveniently operated by the thumb of the hand whic supports the device.

The nozzle ca 17 is4 preferably provided with a flange 3 which` is friotionally received within the end of the blast tube and with an abutment 38 engaging the end of 4 0 at diametrically oppdsite points, as best shown in Fig. 4. These channels 40 permit greater flow at the sides of the liquid tube 26 and direct cross currents of air which, meeting in a central plane, effect a flat spray, that is, cause the particles of li uid todiverge more widely in a vertica vdirection than` in a horizontal direction, with the capv in the position shown.

The lower end of the pipe 22 is ilared outj wardly at 41 to form a conicalmouth and the upturned end 20 of the tube 19 projects slightly into such mouth.- To prevent/a building up of'pressure above. the surfaceof the liquid equal to that in the blastvtube,a' tube 42 is provided which extends through the cap 12 and is directed forwardly at its upper end. The tube 42 is held in place by a tube 43, below the cap 12, which is threaded tothe lower end of tube' 42 and is bent, preferably upwardly, to prevent accidental entry of liquid therein.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and j 6, the invention is embodied ,in a sprayer of the aspirating type and the operation is shown as controlled by venting the main air low to atmosphere.4 A main casting 11, comprising a cap 12a and a portion 13a for threaded engagement with a jar 14a, is proj vided with a horizontal blast tube 15a in continua'tion of a handle tube portion 16a', the forward end of the blast tubehaving a detachable Acap 17a frictionally held thereon. A 'Venturi tube 44 'is inserted in the blast tube 15a and held in place therein by a bent tube 45, the end of which extends back to the throat of the Venturi tube and which' connects with and-is threaded upon the upper end of the vertical tube 19, The upturned end 20a of tube 19 is received in the lower flared end 41a of tube 22a, which conducts the liquid to reservoir 21a, and a short liquid tube 23a extends upwardly from reservoir 21, and the whole assembly is position- -ed by adrip ring 24, secured to tube 23,

as in the prior modification, a drain vent 21*1 being provided, if desired. A liquid nozzle 46 is threaded upon the upper end of the tube 23a and extends upwardly to a point in front of the air-blast opening 47 in the cap 17, which is here shown as circulanto effect a substantially circular spray pattern.

A pressure reducing vent, for insuring the operation of the gas-lift pump, is providedV by a bentvtube 43, sinilar to tube 43 in Fig.

mospheric pressure.

2, upon which a bent tube 42 is threaded,

lextending forwardly to a point. almost in the plane -of the air-blast opening -47. It is necessary that the forward end of the tube maintained above the surface of the liquid and hence the operation of in the container, the gas-lift pump. -To vary spray from zero to a maximum, 48 is provided in the top'of the tubular airsupplying' handle 16, where it joins the blast 15, such opening being so located and of such size that it ma be conveniently closed by the thumb of t e hand by which the device is supported.

In the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the air blast is continuous, and the shape and force of the blast will be determined by the shape and size of the air-blast opening, as described heretofore. A constant flow of airwill be maintained down pipe l1 9, up through pipe 22, carrying with it liquid to keep reservoir 21 overiowing, and through pipes 43 and 42 back into the main air stream in the blast tube 15, As the thumb piece 35, andthe wedge 31, are pushed forward valve member 27 will be raised to perthe rate of mit liquid to be drawn from the reservoirv 21 by the aspirating action of the air blast upon the end of the horizontal liquid supply tube 26, and the air mixed with the small particles of liquid will be projected as a spray, and the liquid content of the spray will'vary withthe size of` the valve opening. It will be apparent that, whatever the height of the liquid in the container 14, the

liquid head which must be overcome bythe aspiratingy action is constant, as the liquid 'level in the reservoir 21 remains constant Y 5 and G, the densitA of the covered, has insuicient aspirating when the valvev 27 is closed, there caI and, be no dribbling or blowing of drop liquid .by the air blast. v

In the modified structure shown in Figs.

spray is ucontrolled by varying t e air iow throughthe blast-tube 15 and the air-blast opening 47 Since the area of the opening 48 is of much greaterarea than that at the throat ofthe Venturi tube 44, there will be only a slight flowy of air through the air-blast opening 47 when the opening 48 is uncovered, and the fiow vmay be gradually increased to a maximum as the opening 48 is gradually closed. rlhe liquid nozzle 46 is so placed that vthe minimum air flow, when opening 48 is uneiiect to lift liquid from the reservoir 21a, so that there can be no spraying or dribbling an opening under such conditions. The flow of air from the throat of the Venturi tube 44 downtube osed, the pressure in the blast overcome the liquid head above the top of reservoir 21a and'spraying begins, the pres sure in the blast tube, velocity stream at the nozzle and hence the liquid content of the spray gradually increasing as the opening 48 'is further closed.

of the air- 4In both modifications, it will be apparent that the density of spray can be gradually* varied, by simple means, from a condition in which there is no liquidin the air stream to' whatever density maybe desired, and that the action of the device as a'whole is entirely independent of the level of the liquid in the container at any moment. The s tructures are simple, may be easily cleaned, and may be readily operated by one hand. While several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the structural details( Within the scope' of the invention, which is defined in the following claims. i

I claim:

1. A spraying device, comprising an air supply tube having a reduced nozzle, a

' closed liquid container secured to and below said tube, a liquid supply tube having an outlet in aspirating relation with respect to said nozzle, and a gas lift ump for supplying liquid to'said liquid tu tainer including a tubeconnected to said' air supply tube and an outlet tube. communicating with thespace above the liquid in said container and having its end extending .forwardly within said air supply'tube.

2. AI portable spraying device, comprlsingl an air supply tube having'a nozzle, a liqe from said conuid container secured to and below said tube, a constant level reservoir in fixed re.-

lation with and adjacent said nozzle, a liq.

uid supply conduit communicating with said reservoir and having an outlet aspirating relation with respect to said nozzle,` and pumping means responsive to air flow in said air supply tube for continuously supplying vliquid from said container to said constantv adj acent'said nozzle and adapted f to air flow in said air supply tube for rais,- ing liquid from-said containery to said cup.

4. A portable spraying device, comprising an ,air supply tube having a nozzle, a liquid container below and'secured to said tube,- a cup adjacent saidnozzle within the upper portion of said container and adapted to overflow intosaid container, a liquid supply conduit communicating4 with said cup and having an outlet in aspirating relation with respect to said nozzle, and a gas-lift pump in said container for raising liquid yfrom said container to said cup.

5. A spraying device, comprising an air l supply tube having a nozzle, a liquid. container below and in fixed relation to said air tube, a cup adjacent said nozzle and adapted a cup carried by'said tube adjacent said nozzle and arranged to overflow into said container, a liquid supply conduit communicating with said cup and having an outlet in aspirating relation 'with respect to said the lower end'of said upwar ly extending secondary tube, the space above the liquid in said container being vented to maintaln therein a pressure below that in'said primary tube.

Signed at North Canton, in the ,county of Stark, and State of Ohio, this th day of March, 1931.

v .WILLIAM H. KITTO.

with respect to said nozzle, and ymeans carv ried by said air tube and projecting into said container operably responsive to air ,2s flow in said air supply ltube for raising liquid from said container to said cup.

6. A spraying device, comprising an air supply tube having a nozzle, a liquid container below 'and secured to said tube, an overiiow cup adjacent said nozzle Within. the upper portion of said container, a liquid supply conduit .communicating with said cup` and having an outlet in aspirating-rela- A tion with respect'tosaid nozzle, and means' 4responsive to a dlference 1n air pressure between theair supply tube and the space in i the top portion of said container forraising liqpid from said container to said cup.

. A spraying device, comprising an air supply tube having a nozzle, a liquid containerI detachably 'secured to and below said `tube, a constant level reservoir in fixed relationto and adjacent saidnozzle, a liquid supplyv conduit communicating with said reservoir and having an outlet in aspira-ting relation with respect to said nozzle, means responsive to air flow in said air supply tube for continuously supplying liquid from said container to said constant level reservoir,

and manually -actuable meansy for controlling the flow of liquid in said 'liquid conduit;

- 8.-A spraymg device, comprising an air supply tube having a nozzle, a liquid lcon-A tainer secured to and below said nozzle,` a i cup arranged in ixedrelation to said nozzle and to overflow into said container, a liquidsupplytube communicating with said cup and having an outlet in aspirating relation with respectto said nozzle, a Venturi tube within said air supply tube, and a gas-lift pump for raising liquid from said container to said cup including a tube having aninletY positioned in thefthroat of said'Venturi tube,

' 9. A portable spraying device, comprising an air vsupplyotube havin a nozzle, a liquid container secured 'to an below said Y tube, 

